Albert and Alberta
Encyclopedia
Albert E. Gator and Alberta Gator are the official mascots of the University of Florida
. Costumed in plush
, they are anthropomorphic representations of American alligator
s.
being home to millions of alligators, the alligator (often just called a "Gator") was chosen as the mascot to represent the University of Florida in 1908, two years after it was conglomerated onto its current campus in Gainesville, Florida
and began sports play.
A live alligator, first appearing in 1957, was once the mascot of the Gators on the field before the costumed version Albert became the mascot in 1970. He was joined by a female version, Alberta, in 1986. They often appear as a couple, but also appear alone. They both cheer on the football team, but Albert appears solo at Gator baseball and men's basketball games, while Alberta cheers on the women's basketball and gymnastics teams, among others.
Albert and Alberta are unique among the SEC's college mascots as the only male and female pairing, something also generally uncommon among the NCAA's mascots.
More so than some college mascots, the students who portray Albert and Alberta have to be able to endure extremely hot temperatures inside the mascot suit during home football games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
in Gainesville, Florida
.
The logo of the Gators athletic teams in the early-to-mid 1990s was the Fighting Gator cartoonized version of Albert, eventually dropped in favor of the current gender-neutral Gator head logo.
commercial. He walked out of an elevator and became the object of Steve Irwin
's alligator wrangling tendencies.
In June 2007, Sports Illustrated
On Campus ranked Albert as the #1 mascot in their "Mascot Power Rankings."
Mascot Books
has published two children's books featuring Albert and Alberta, entitled Hello, Albert! and Albert's Journey Through the Sunshine State.
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. Costumed in plush
Plush
Plush is a textile having a cut nap or pile the same as fustian or velvet.Originally the pile of plush consisted of mohair or worsted yarn, but now silk by itself or with a cotton backing is used for plush, the distinction from velvet being found in the longer and less dense pile of plush...
, they are anthropomorphic representations of American alligator
American Alligator
The American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
s.
History
With the state of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
being home to millions of alligators, the alligator (often just called a "Gator") was chosen as the mascot to represent the University of Florida in 1908, two years after it was conglomerated onto its current campus in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
and began sports play.
A live alligator, first appearing in 1957, was once the mascot of the Gators on the field before the costumed version Albert became the mascot in 1970. He was joined by a female version, Alberta, in 1986. They often appear as a couple, but also appear alone. They both cheer on the football team, but Albert appears solo at Gator baseball and men's basketball games, while Alberta cheers on the women's basketball and gymnastics teams, among others.
Albert and Alberta are unique among the SEC's college mascots as the only male and female pairing, something also generally uncommon among the NCAA's mascots.
More so than some college mascots, the students who portray Albert and Alberta have to be able to endure extremely hot temperatures inside the mascot suit during home football games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the university's Florida Gators football team. It is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was originally built in 1930, and has been regularly...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
.
The logo of the Gators athletic teams in the early-to-mid 1990s was the Fighting Gator cartoonized version of Albert, eventually dropped in favor of the current gender-neutral Gator head logo.
In popular culture
Like many college mascots, Albert and Alberta have made appearances in the highlights of national sports and highlight shows. The most notable appearance of either was in early 2006, when Albert was featured in a This is SportsCenterThis is SportsCenter
This is SportsCenter is the name of a series of comical television commercials run by ESPN to promote their SportsCenter sports news show. The ads are presented in a deadpan mockumentary style, lampooning various aspects of sports, and sports broadcasting. The commercials debuted in 1994...
commercial. He walked out of an elevator and became the object of Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
's alligator wrangling tendencies.
In June 2007, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
On Campus ranked Albert as the #1 mascot in their "Mascot Power Rankings."
Mascot Books
Mascot Books
Mascot Books is the largest publisher of licensed children’s sports books in America. Based in Herndon, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., Mascot Books creates children’s books for professional teams, colleges, and even elementary schools...
has published two children's books featuring Albert and Alberta, entitled Hello, Albert! and Albert's Journey Through the Sunshine State.